Thomas k



(No Model.) 7

' T. K. KEITH;

TOY HOOP.

No. 275,771. Patented Apr. 10,1883.

a. PETERS. Moutho nphar. via-um uc.

K UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS K. KEITH, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, ANDLEONARD WHITNEY AND BOSWELL OARLETON, OF SAME PLACE.

TOY HOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,771, dated April10, 1883.

Application filed February 19, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS K. KEITH, ofHaverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain 1mprovements in Toy Hoops, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide a toy rolling-hoop adaptedto be used not only as a hoop, but also'as a skipping-rope.

To this end my invention consists in a hoop having a joint whereby itscontinuity may be broken when it is desired to adapt it for use as askipping toy, as I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a side view of a hoop embodying my invention. Fig. 2represents a side view of the same with its continuity broken. Fig. 3represents an enlarged side view of the portion of the hoop in which thejoint is made. Fig. 4 represents a section on lineww, Fig. 3. Fig. 5represents a perspective view of the ends of the curved rod of which thedevice is made.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a curved rod, a, of metal orother suitable material, and form the ends of said rod in such mannerthat they can be locked together, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, to forma continuous hoop or circle, or separated, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, toform a bow adapted to be grasped by the ends and rotated so as to passalternately over the head and under the feet, like a skipping-rope. Twovery popular toys are thus combined in ine. The construction of the endswhereby they are adapted to be locked or secured together may bevariously modified. In the present instance I have shown one of saidends provided with a hook or shoulder, 4, and a rib, 5, back of saidshoulder, the other end having a hook or shoulder, 6, adapted to engagewith the shoulder 4, and a slot, 7, adapted to receive the rib 5. Theresilience of the rod causes its ends to spring outwardly or away fromeach other. Hence when said ends are engaged with ,each other, as shown,the resilience of the rod holds them in engagement, the rib 5 and slot 7preventing the ends from moving laterally on each other. I prefer toform protuberances 19 on the inner sides of the rod a, near its ends, toenable the rod to be more conveniently held. I also prefer to providethe rod with eyes 1" r, or other devices adapted to hold thedrivingstick t when the toy is not in use as a hoop.

I claim-- 1. A toy composed of a curved rod having ends adapted to besecured together to form a continuous ring or hoop and to be separatedto form a substitute for a skipping-rope, as set forth.

2. The continuous resilient rod having at one end a hook, 4, and rib 5and at the other end a hook, 6, and slot 7, as set forth.

3. The curved rod having ends adapted to be secured together andprovided with protuberances p p, as set forth.

4. The curved rod having-on its inner side devices for holding adriving-stick, as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 15th day of February, 1883.

THOMAS K. KEITH.

Witnesses:

O. F. BROWN, A. L. WHITE.

